By Tracey John, assistant director of research, business and innovation, UWE Bristol
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is very active when it comes to business engagement. As well as offering internships and supplying work-ready graduates, it also serves as a conduit for government funding. 
Two of the funding schemes the university can offer access to are highlighted below.
Our new Grant 4 Growth (G4G) funding scheme is designed to support all types of business, from right across the country, to access academic expertise and university facilities, including laboratories, workshops and testing equipment.
Businesses can apply for 70% funding of projects worth up to £10,000. Eligible activity can be focused on R&D (e.g. development of new products, processes and services) or strategic projects (e.g. new business model development, market evaluation and assessments).
Similarly, our Innovation for Growth (I4G) funding scheme continues to provide grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a presence in the West of England (Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire).
With a total grant pot of £500,000 to distribute, I4G part-funds SMEs – including start-ups, social enterprises and sole traders – from any industrial sector to carry out research and development (R&D) projects.
Eligible businesses have until July 30, 2018, to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £75,000, to cover up to 35% of total project costs, which can include consultancy, the purchase of equipment, technology, machinery and materials, testing, trials, market assessment and training.
Financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the scheme supports these enterprises to create new jobs and develops new products, technologies, processes and services. I4G has already created or safeguarded 900 jobs across the region.
UWE pro vice-chancellor for research & enterprise Prof Martin Boddy said the university is are interested in funding a range of projects that reflect the diversity of R&D taking place among the West of England’s business community.
One West of England business that has already benefitted from the I4G programme is Gilcrest Manufacturing. Based in Bristol, it produces bespoke panels for a wide range of uses, including sterile rooms, cold rooms and music studios.
One of its products is a lightweight aluminium honeycomb ceiling panel. The funding allowed Gilcrest to invest time in developing the product, researching material grades as well as their effect on panel strength. It also undertook some practical testing to find the best parameters to make the sturdiest and lightest panels.
Operations and engineering director Stephen Griffiths said: “The I4G grant and the support we received from UWE Bristol was critical in bringing the project to fruition.”
For more information about the I4G programme, please go to: www.innovation4growth@uwe.ac.uk or contact us at innovation4growth@uwe.ac.uk
For more information on Grants 4 Growth or for advice on which grants is more suitable for your business, please email: Grants4Growth@uwe.ac.uk
